Tenth Annual Portland Fine Craft Show Sparkles in the Sunshine on Free Street

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Whitney Gill, Executive Director of Maine Crafts Association with Simonne Feeney, Show Director at the Show Today on Free Street, Portland. Gill Has Held the Post of Executive Director for Three Years Replacing Sadie Bliss, Former Executive Director.

Stevie McKean, of New Talk, at her Booth Today at the Show at 120 Free Street.  For More Information, Please email Stevie at newtalkstudio@gmailcom

“It’s been a good Show for everyone,” said Whitney Gill, Executive Director of the Maine Crafts Association.  The tenth annual Show took place under sunny skies and a cooling breeze – helping to  make it a good day for the always well attended juried event that happened today.

But, there were only 115 vendors at the show — fewer than in previous years.  That is due to the nearby controversial demolition by the Portland Museum of Art of the former Children’s Museum.  Because of that work the  juried show had to downsize its vendors allowed at the 120 Free Street location.

According to a report in today’s “Portland Press Herald” the city has approved a demolition permit for the next door Children’s Museum.  Demolition of that location could begin as soon as next week.  Plans call for the Portland Museum of Art to bulld a new wing on that site to replace the former Children’s Museum accoding to the front page article.  It was so controversial that Greater Portland Landmarks filed a lawsuit against the city for supporting this new developmet;  a lawsuit that it lost.  That loss allows the PMA to move forward with the demolition of the historic building and construct the  new wing it has long advocated.

The Children’s Museum and Theatre is now located at Thompson’s Point.Road, Portland.

One of the vendors at the Show today was Stevie McKean.  This is her second year in the show displaying her pottery.  Stevie admitted that the cost of producing her mugs, plates and bowls has been forced to increase slightly.  Because of President Trump’s tariffs some  of the materials she needs that are imported from Africa have already incrreased.in cost.  Stevie has a studio at “Running with Scissors Artist Studios and Community”, at 250 Anderson Street  on the east end of Portland.

“It’s been a good show, Stevie said.  “I’ll be back next year.”  But the adjacent historic building won’t be back.